As a service to the Air Force, during the summer of 1963, the Defense Metals Information Center conducted a brief review of the current status and 1970 potential of a selected number of metals and their alloys. Because of the general interest of this subject, the information obtained has been summarized in this memorandum for release to Government agencies and industrial organizations engaged in the defense effort. (Author).

The memorandum summarizes the available information on the compatibility of liquid rocket propellants with prominent materials of construction. Fuels and oxidizers of current interest are discussed. The corrosion data which are presented will apply to storing, handling, and control equipment outside of missiles and to missile components excluding combustion chamber. The compatibility of materials with reaction products in combustion chambers, nozzles, etc., is not considered. Included in the summary are data for many nonmetallic materials. The memorandum is subdivided into sections according to the propellant. Each material of construction is rated for a given medium as belonging to one of four classes, based primarily upon corrosion resistance. Consideration also is given to such factors as catalytic decomposition and sensitivity to impact.

A brief study of delayed fracture in a seam-welded titanium panel is summarized in this memorandum. Examination of the fracture surface with electron microscopy showed that the material cleaved, failing in a brittle manner. Although the nature of the embrittlement was not clearly defined, titanium hydride phase was suspected as a prime contributor to failure. Even though the hydrogen content of the titanium was only 65 ppm, hydride embrittlement was thought to have occurred from precipitation of hydride platelets on crystal planes oriented normal to welding stresses. Other work, briefly discussed in the memorandum, has confirmed that hydride platelets in titanium can be oriented by stress and that tensile ductility of Zircaloy (which behaves similarly with respect to hydrogen, to titanium) depends upon hydride orientation. Stress-relief annealing of welded titanium structures is recommended wherever possible to minimize embrittlement by stress-oriented hydrides. (Author).